Starting F/Winns Freedom

[bobsp]

I have a Fourwinns Freedom, at the weekend I tried to start it for the first time this season, did all checks etc, turned key and the starter was turning, like a grinding, but the engine was only turning once every 1/4 second or so. I took starter motor off, had a look, took it over the local workshop, they rekoned it is fine, put it back in , checked battery, low. OK charged it up for 24hrs, now reading 12.8V, started it again, same thing, starter goes ok, (with mor power this time) but no engine start.

The last time I used it last year (October time) it was all fine.

What can I do next????



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[BrendanS]

First thing I'd do is try to jump start off a battery booster pack, or another battery if you can carry it onto the boat. Symptoms sound like a dud battery

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[bobsp]

I thought with a 12.8v it would have been ok.

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[BrendanS]

Starter wasn't turning engine fast enough to start engine, and you might need to turn the engine over at speed for a fair while after prolonged period. You might have a bad cell in the battery. By far the easiest way to check is to use a well charged booster pack if you can borrow one. Much easier to do this first than to try fault finding elsewhere, only to find that battery is dud!

If battery booster doesn't work, then get a voltmeter, and check voltage at starter while turning over. Check voltage at battery while you are at it. Also make sure the connections at battery and intermediates (like relays or connections) are clean and good. Did they check solenoid when you had starter checked out?

Still suspect battery or connection. Try the booster pack


<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[cliff]

Fully agree with Brendan_s. Sounds like either a dud battery/cell or a bad connection in the starter circuit.
Even though a battery reads 12.8v does not mean it will start an engine. the 12.8v is at no load. the moment you start to draw current from the battery the voltage drops due to internal resistance (duff cell).
A few things to check
1) measure the voltage across the battery while cranking the engine over - should be around 7~8V.
2) check the voltage across the startermotor while cranking - should be same as battery voltage while cranking (almost the same anyway)
3) measure the voltage across the starter solonoid while cranking the engine over - should be as near as damn zero.

I had a similar problem and tried everything even had the starter "tested" by a so called marine specialist - eventually found the problem myself. The bushes in the started were dry so while the motor benchtested OK as soon as the load was on it
the damn thing turned very slow. A drop of oil fixed the problem until I had time to dismantle the motor and grease the bushes properly.

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[William_H]

As already stated I bet it is the battery. It is a large ask for a battery to crank an engine. Check the voltage at the battery terminals when cranking if you can't make around 10 volts she's dud. Twice I have had car batteries fail after a long drive. Stop at a shop 2mins later won't start a warm engine. If you havn't got the technical skills to find the fault I would always advocate for car starting problems get a new battery. They only last 4 to 6 years so a new one is not a complete waste.

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[imported_kevread]

agree with all, but batt voltage should not drop below 10v when cranking, at starter bat lead terminal and at bat. one other check you shoulld carry out is starter/engine earth to complete a good circuit.

regards kevin

<hr width=100% size=1>No boat.....Yet